13 Sep 2016

Chocolate and Cinnamon Babka | Bake Off Bake Along

Bread week has tested me. I knew it wouldn’t be easy and I
dreaded this week at the start, but it pretty much confirmed why I hate working with yeast. It also reaffirmed my love for cakes.

There were a lot of uncooked breads on GBBO this week and I
feel their pain. Although mine wasn’t uncooked, it didn’t rise correctly in its proving. It
probably wasn’t helped by me trying to do a 5 hour babka in just 2 and half hours.

And that I only gave it one prove. Yeah, that was probably a
bit stupid.

My house is not made
for proving bread apparently. Trying to find a warm place in my house when
there are no radiators are on, the tumble dryer doesn’t emit any heat and
having no airing cupboard, made this challenge very difficult.

Which led me to placing the bread (all plaited and in its tin) on top of the oven while it was on, with cling wrap over the bowl. But it didn’t so much double in size as it did
just puff up a bit.

Tips on proving in a cool house please?!

The good thing about trying different challenges for
the #BakeOffBakeAlong is that they really do challenge you and your skills.
They also make you realise what you need to work on and improve.

This challenge has pretty much confirmed that I need to work
on my bread making skills.

I am pretty impressed with the chocolate swirl inside, if that's anything and the taste (although not risen properly) is delicious. Also well done to Bake Off contestants because they made moving
their breads into the prepared tins look so easy.

When in fact after shaping and plaiting the dough on a board and then having to transfer it into the tin is just plain awkward and difficult. Then the dough stretches as you move it and it becomes longer and the plaits less precise. In the end it came to just shoving it in the tin and hoping for the best.

Favourite bake from GBBO this past week had to be Andrew and his bread flower basket. I mean, he made a basket out of bread! Jane's showstopper of Chorizo, Parmesan and Pesto braided bread was my cup of tea and something I could happily devour right now.

I used David Lebovitz's recipe for Chocolate Babka and reduced the proving time... something I will never do again. I fully recommend following the exact times he gives, and ignore Bake Off times, let it rise and prove for the full time in a lovely little warm place so you can enjoy some good ol' chocolate bread.

How did bread week go for you? Let me know what breads you challenged yourself with this week!